Sleater-Kinney

Live in Paris - Very Good, Based on 4 Critics

PopMatters - 80Based on rating 8/10

80

After returning from a nearly decade-long hiatus with No Cities to Love in 2015, Sleater-Kinney embarked on an extensive and acclaimed tour, captured in this concert recorded in Paris. This live set was recorded on March 20, 2015, when the trio performed at the historic venue La Cigale. Live in Paris presents the band’s well-known stage presence completely, nailing an energy and intensity shared from the group to the crowd—and making up for lost time during the hiatus.

Sleater-Kinney's history as integral members of the riot grrrl movement has featured many notable moments since their founding over 20 years ago, but a live album had yet to be one of them — until now. Recorded at La Cigale on March 20, 2015, Live in Paris is a powerhouse collection of 13 tracks that best showcase the trio in their natural state: immersed in the passionate performance of their anthemic rock.The album perfectly captures the abrasive and raw sound that Sleater-Kinney have only strengthened throughout the years. Corin Tucker's sharp vocals and guitar riffs perfectly intertwine with those of Carrie Brownstein's, each emphatic hit of Janet Weiss' drums thunderous.

As most Sleater-Kinney fans would be able to tell you, there wasn’t a massive amount of live material available from the band prior to their 2015 reunion. There certainly wasn't anything official, atlthough bootlegs of varying quality could be found floating around on the internet if you looked hard enough. There were a handful of videos, too, including this pro-shot, but pretty scratchy footage from 2006’s Lollapalooza in Chicago, as well as the occasional performance plucked from U.S.

I’m such a lucky guy. Just after 2005’s The Woods, when my teenage self was starting to pay real attention to rock criticism, Sleater-Kinney came to a stop. I saw the record on some year-end lists, but foolishly overlooked it. When Portlandia and Wild Flag happened, I knew there was something I was supposed to know about these artists, but it still felt like an era that I had missed.